S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

A minimalist bottle, a great perfume that brings me lots of good memories !!!

Have I told you about the scent of jasmine? Have I spoken about the smell of the sea? The earth is scented. And I perfume myself to enhance what I am. That's why I can not wear a perfume that bothers me. Perfuming is an instinctive wisdom. And like all art, it requires some knowledge of yourself..."
Clarice Lispector ( 1920-1977) - Perfumes da Terra / Earth Perfumes

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Up late-ish due to spontaneous going out last night - love it when that happens. Nevertheless, I needed a frag that wouldn't upset my ehm, delicate state right now. Mugler Cologne from a sample it is.

It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely products of a deranged imagination.Douglas Adams

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

It does have a proto-Tom Ford vibe to it, no?

It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely products of a deranged imagination.Douglas Adams

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Carnal Flower (again). I've become a tad obsessed with Tuberose and Carnal flower is my Tube fix, the 50ml bottle I bought on the BN Lunch seems to be vastly depleting.

On a plus note I'm awaiting the delivery of a bottle of A Travers le Miroir by Thierry Mugler which is meant to be a very nice Wintergreen Tuberose (I've not tried it - yes I know blind buying is silly) so maybe Carnal Flower will have a bit of a rest in the next few days.

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Good morning all....Thanks for the hugs yesterday....Nothing is for the better here I'm afraid.Will probably have to find somewhere else to live soon if this continues In an attempt to make me feel better I'm in Hypnotic Poison.

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Up too late last night because I went to see the Red Sox at Fenway and they had the bad taste to wait until the bottom of the ninth inning to win. So I couldn't leave early. I just don't like it when reality won't conform to my expectations.

I need something to give me an olfactory jolt this morning which leads me to wearing a sample I've been holding for awhile awaiting cooler weather.

Nasomatto Black Afgano

Alessandro Gualtieri is the head perfumer at Nasomatto and he steadfastly refuses to give out note lists. His reasoning goes that each wearer should experience a Nasomatto scent for themselves without any preconceptions. Which is a nice theory and for the most part works. Except Sig. Gualtieri then adds incredibly descriptive copy to his fragrances which while they don't point to notes, per se, they do definitely give you a direction to let your imagination run. If you believe the stories around the 2009 release Black Afgano, Sig. Gualtieri was inspired by the odors of good hashish and supposedly smuggled some into his lab so he could have a reference while working on Black Afgano. Based on that description I was expecting a richer take on the cannabis note from the two Fresh scents Cannabis Santal or Cannabis Rose. Instead I got a deep incense centered scent with lots of smoke, tobacco, oud, and patchouli. The top of Black Afgano lands with a resounding bang as right out of the atomizer I get a deep incense accord and this is paired with an unsmoked menthol cigarette tobacco vibe. This tobacco accord comes off the way a pack of menthol cigarettes smells after the wrapper is removed. The very slight mentholated note adds to the heady mix and accentuates instead of detracting. As we move into the heart a distinct oud appears, along with a smoky tea accord, which really deepens the incense feeling of Black Afgano while beginning to add some woodiness which is joined by some cedar. The base is classic dirty patchouli which Nasomatto and Sig. Gualtieri have used so well in the past. Here it seems appropriate and the next logical step in the development of this fragrance. Very late in the development, hours later, a hint of vanilla manages to break through. This comes so late it took three wearings to convince myself that I just hadn't somehow gotten another scent on me. Black Afgano is amazingly long lasting and was still detectable the next day after a shower! Funnily enough it is very much a skin scent with very little sillage. For a scent that was supposed to be all about the intrigue and danger of hashish Black Afgano, on me, is more about the incense one burns to cover up the smell of hashish. In any case I think Black Afgano is one of the best of the Nasomatto line.

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

I managed to get it for £45 on eBay otherwise I wouldn't have bought it, they retail for about twice that I think.

I'm dying to try the new Vanilla and Anise, i've heard that it's not an overdose of vanilla, is that the case?

What a great buy then, whatever your thoughts on it when it comes! I saw them in France for approaching 140 euros, which at the prevailing exchange rate was extremely pricey.

That's correct about the JM: the vanilla isn't foody vanilla from the vanilla pod, but the scent of the purple vanilla orchid, so it is dry and not at all gourmand. I an not a fan of anise, but it doesn't trouble me at all here - just adds a certain coolness to the composition. Maybe it is in fact the purple anise orchid...

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Yay! I'm feeling much better (I had a flu or bug or something). Munchkins in my head are singing We're outta the woods, we're outta the woods, we're outta the woods. (Hmm...maybe I just think I'm better!)

Going to be a sampling day for me. I have lots on my plate to play with. First up is YSL's Parsienne (thanks 30 Roses!), which I've been dying to try. 30 Roses has been doing layering experiments with it, and I can see why. It seems a bit bland, but I think it's really just quiet. At first it reminds me of Yves Rocher's Rose Absolute (citrussy & sweet), with a bit of acetone added in, and violets begin to open up as it dries down. I get just the faintest whiff of Dans tes Bras in there as well. I keep looking for the vinyl accord, but my dense nose hasn't picked up on it yet. It's pretty, and maybe a tiny bit more subversive than you would expect. This is my first sampling, so just my first impression.

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Ah, Lilybelle, I wish that I could maintain my optimism and curiosity about La Parisienne. I rushed over to Bloomies to sniff as I was so looking forward to its release. To me, La Parisienne is just a monotonous rose. This from the company that produced the classically beautiful rose, Rive Gauche. Ah, well.

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Originally Posted by Therese

Ah, Lilybelle, I wish that I could maintain my optimism and curiosity about La Parisienne. I rushed over to Bloomies to sniff as I was so looking forward to its release. To me, La Parisienne is just a monotonous rose. This from the company that produced the classically beautiful rose, Rive Gauche. Ah, well.

I am wearing Chanel No. 5 parfum.

I'm trying not to be disappointed, especially as I'm a Grosjman fan. But you know, I think I still prefer Kate Moss by Coty. I would imagine No. 5 parfum smells better than most recent releases.

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

A big hug to ineespenes, I hope the situation works out for the best for you.

Alien today, of which I'm quite enamoured right now.

This one reminds me of Tocade, not because they smell anything alike, but because they are both quirky in similar ways. Tocade is a gourmand that wants to be a floral, and Alien is a floral with a gourmand underpinning. The effect of Tocade is warm and Alien is quite cool. They're like yin and yang.

The funny thing about Alien is that on a test strip it was very warm, very chocolate and patchy, like a Borneo/A*Men thing. On my skin the cool jasmine headlines and the chocolate/patch make it all a little bizarre, in a really good way!

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Hi everyone.Ineespenes.... hugs are going your way.Lilybelle- glad you are feeling much better ! Hugs flying to you too !

This morning I am wearing Bluebell with much gusto and I'm really enjoying the almost gourmand sweetness and the green .Although this is quite light, it does last for some time.
I love that sweetness in Bluebell - it doesn't go away on my skin.

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Third posting's a charm.
Ines, I hope things work out for the best - hugs.

Mugler Cologne didn't last long, so I continued the soapy theme by treating myself to a few dabs of Chanel Bois des Îles parfum, of which I got a sample from a very generous Basenoter. The opening is still not my favourite (sharp, aldehydic, soapy and way too much ylang) but the dry-down "clicks" today. Yes, it's soapy, but it's also mellow-sweet, chewy and chic. Enjoying it a lot.

SMM, love your review of BA. I should retest it, but the big heady syrupy patchouli in the dry-down scared me off, even if I really liked the opening.

It is known that there are an infinite number of worlds, simply because there is an infinite amount of space for them to be in. However, not every one of them is inhabited. Any finite number divided by infinity is as near nothing as makes no odds, so the average population of all the planets in the Universe can be said to be zero. From this it follows that the population of the whole Universe is also zero, and that any people you may meet from time to time are merely products of a deranged imagination.Douglas Adams

Re: S o t D Thursday 17 September 2009

Inees---wishing you good luck
Lilybelle--hoping you're feeling top-notch today
Veuve--hope your head is better and less pudding-y

Scent sisters with so many of you in Jo Malone's Vanilla Anise refreshments. Love how it starts off so refreshingly and then morphs into cozy comfortable slippers. Well, slippers are figuratively speaking, obviously.